Dennis Moffatt, now 86, has managed the Market at Red Deer since its inception 49 years ago. The 2019 season wrapped up on Saturday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

on to 2020...

49 years and counting for the Market at Red Deer

Oct 12, 2019 | 11:14 AM

Another year is in the books for the Market at Red Deer, a weekly tradition that’s become an institution in our city over the last 49 years.

On Saturday, rdnewsNOW caught up with long-time market owner/manager Dennis Moffatt, who said while customer numbers were down this year, they weren’t the only market to experience that.

“It was the same all over, but it’ll come back. This was an adjustment season,” the 86-year-old former city councillor said. “People resist change; we were over at the other spot (Memorial Centre) for three years, but we’re all happy to be back here (outside Servus Arena) with washrooms available and there’s much more room.”

When Red Deer’s market started up, there were only three others in the province, in Medicine Hat, Calgary and Edmonton, according to Moffatt. Alberta now has over 200 markets.

“It’s really heartwarming that people have claimed this market as their own. It is Red Deer’s market and we welcome other markets,” he remarked. “But this is the one that people look forward to. and they can hardly wait for it to open in May; they start calling me in January.”

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With between 150 and 210 vendors each week, the market is quite the undertaking. After next year’s 50th anniversary, Moffatt said he still plans on handing over the reins to his kids.

“Today everyone seems happy. I don’t know why; maybe because it’s the end of the market,” he pondered. “Or I guess it’s because they all get to sleep in next weekend.”